Most solvents have been labelled as toxic or hazardous substances, but the use of glycerol derivatives could help solve these and other problems. An alternative, green synthesis of 2,2-dimethyl-4-hidroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane (solketal), using solid acid catalysts, has been developed. It is shown that using auxiliary solvents is not essential to get good results, and that the solid catalyst can be recovered and reused, improving the productivity. Moreover solketal has been characterized by determining its polarity and hydrophobicity parameters, which allow identifying possible solvent substitution applications more easily.

Peer reviewed